Guidance

Throat and nose test (Innova 25) for care home staff: COVID-19 rapid test kit instructions

Step-by-step guide for COVID-19 self-testing for adult health and social care staff. Rapid tests show the result on a device that comes with the test.

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This content is now available at COVID-19: guidance and support.

Documents

Your step-by-step guide for COVID-19 self-testing for adult social care staff

Details

Social care managers are responsible for making sure that all their staff are following the guidance in this step-by-step guide for self-testing.

This guide provides information on tracking:

  • staff training
  • kit distribution
  • staff results

This guide also tells you how to:

  • prepare the test
  • take a swab sample
  • process the sample
  • read and report the result

Check the expiry date before you do the test. Do not use out-of-date tests. Use a test from a box which is still in date.

Find help to do the test and report your result

To watch a video demonstration and for help with doing the test and reporting results, see how to do a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test.

Published 28 October 2021
Last updated 29 April 2022 + show all updates
  1. Added information about checking expiry dates on rapid lateral flow tests.

  2. Updated information to reflect changes in testing for coronavirus (COVID-19) in England.

  3. Updated wording to reflect that rapid lateral flow tests are usually for people without symptoms of COVID-19.

  4. Updated information about how to get a test kit and get help with doing the test.

  5. First published.